10/08/2025
We celebrate our faculty each and every day. Prof. Marc Fellenz (ret.) is a beloved colleague and teacher whose contributions to the growth and success of the College are monumental! We are so grateful to him and all our student hardship fund donors. They provide support to the most vulnerable students at our college and we are eternally grateful for their dedication and commitment to student success.
A Parting Gift with Purpose – Supporting Our Students in Need
October 2025
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
In 2016, following the deaths of my parents—and working with then Executive Dean of the Michael J. Grant Campus Dr. James Keane, and Christopher Williams of the Suffolk Community College Foundation—I established the Michael J. Grant Campus Student Hardship Fund in their memory. Because of the financial pressures their immigrant families faced, neither of my parents was able to finish high school. Yet, because they understood the transformative potential of education, they saw to it that all their children and grandchildren were able to pursue and complete college degrees. As one of the fortunate beneficiaries of their sacrifices, I thought it a fitting way to honor their memory to offer assistance to others who may be facing financial obstacles to completing their studies.
The Hardship Fund provides emergency assistance to students who face severe financial hardship—those at risk of eviction, food insecurity, medical emergencies, utility shutoffs, or other crises that threaten their ability to continue their education. I know we all have worked with students who have been forced to face such challenges, and this is borne out in the number of applications the fund has received. The need is real, and with increasing threats to the social safety nets that support the most vulnerable amongst us, we can expect it to grow.
This past May, President Bonahue conferred upon me the distinction of serving as a Grand Marshall at the 2025 Commencement. This honor gave the opportunity to reflect on how very lucky I have been throughout my life and career. When I recently retired from my service as Professor of Philosophy at the Grant Campus, I made a parting contribution to the Hardship Fund, to assist those who have not been as fortunate as I.
Those with the courage to see are painfully aware of all the suffering in the world, and there are many good causes you can support to help alleviate it. I respectfully ask that you consider joining me in supporting Michael J. Grant Campus Student Hardship Fund—a cause that is close to home, and that could be the lifeline a student needs to continue pursuing their educational goals.
Thank you, and stay well,
Marc Fellenz, PhD
Professor (ret.), Suffolk County Community College
PS – The Michael J. Grant Student Hardship Fund is a pioneering effort by our Suffolk Community College Foundation to provide support to students facing critical financial hardships. Many institutions have followed suit and created these types of emergency funds. Please take the time now to visit our giving page to make your gift. Click here for more information. https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form/?svcid=renxt&formId=b05eefce-82b9-41f4-96b9-2ed6e327e3b8&envid=p-HE8vTbhSw0i8zQ4ZN0oPqQ&zone=usa&bbeml=tp-HE8vTbhSw0i8zQ4ZN0oPqQ.jNG_ULUY2ek-bYMpvx4Hiwg.ruJs-hHDSGkypy8O0KO4Jqw.lcSXDaigAMUqXLa8ba2DETQ
